Asian Test championships may be called off (27 January 1999)

MADRAS, India, Jan 27 (AFP) - The inaugural Asian championship of Test
cricket next month featuring India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is likely
to be cancelled, an Indian cricket board source said on Wednesday.

The month-long championship, the first of its kind anywhere in the
world, was due to start from February 16 following the two-Test series
between India and Pakistan.

The championship opener between India and Pakistan at Calcutta is
expected to be converted into the third Test of the current series
which starts here on Thursday, the source told AFP.

He gave no reason for the likely change, but said a formal
announcement would be made over the weekend.

"The Indian board is in contact with officials from Pakistan and Sri
Lanka over the issue," the source said. "A three-Test series against
Pakistan sounds more promising."

India were due to play Sri Lanka in Colombo and Pakistan were to host
Sri Lanka at Lahore in other championship matches, before the final in
the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka from March 12.

According to the revised itinerary being drawn up, India and Pakistan
will play three one-dayers after the Calcutta Test before joining Sri
Lanka in a scheduled triangular one-day series from March 19.

Pakistan are making their first Test tour of India in 12 years.

The Asian Test event was considered a forerunner to the proposed world
championships that the International Cricket Council is currently
working on.

Multi-nation tournaments, like the World Cup, have so far been
confined to one-day cricket.